Mick Ralphs, guitarist with Mott the Hoople and Bad Company among others, died last week. He apparently left Mott the Hoople as the songs he was writing were not suited to singer Ian Hunter’s voice.

They found a compatible home with Paul Rodgers, though, when they formed Bad Company along with Simon Kirke and Boz Burrell.

This is a live version of their first hit, which Ralphs wrote.

Bad Company: Can’t Get Enough

Michael Geoffrey (Mick) Ralphs: 31/3/1944 – 23/6/2025. So it goes.

I discovered two sad departures this week, both Peters, though one of them actually occurred in January.

Peter Skellern’s affection for the brass band sound made him stand out as a bit old fashioned in the early 1970s.

His biggest hit was You’re a Lady, no 3 in 1972.

Peter Skellern: You’re a Lady

I remembered his revival of Frank Noble’s song Love is the Sweetest Thing as being a bigger hit than in fact it was. It apparently only reached no 60. It has a brilliant lyric, though.

Peter Skellern: Love is the Sweetest Thing

Peter Overend Watts was Mott the Hoople’s bass player and is seen quite prominently in this clip:-

Mott The Hoople: Roll Away The Stone

Peter Skellern: 14/3/1947 – 17/2/2017. So it goes.

Peter Overend Watts: 13/5/1948-22/1/2017. So it goes.

Well here we go again. RIP Dale Griffin, the drummer from Mott the Hoople.

I thought I’d go for something a bit less obvious than the David Bowie song that gave them their big break.

Here is the group playing live:-

Mott the Hoople: All the Way from Memphis

Terence Dale Griffin, (“Buffin” Griffin) 24/10/1948 – 17/1/2016. So it goes.

Yesterday at school one of the pupils mentioned a road safety programme called, “Safe Drive, Stay Alive.” My mind immediately flashed to, “Don’t want to stay alive, when you’re twenty five,” and the unforgettably named Mott The Hoople with this David Bowie song.

Mott The Hoople: All The Young Dudes

And here’s Bowie’s version.

David Bowie: All The Young Dudes